Liberalism and radicalism in Switzerland | Wikipedia audio article

This article gives an overview of liberalism
and radicalism in Switzerland. It is limited to liberal and radical parties
with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another
party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn’t necessary
that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.==Introduction==
In the nineteenth century the radicalism of Freisinn became the dominant political force
in Switzerland, which remained for a long time in the twentieth century. Both the major Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti Radical-Démocratique Suisse, member LI, ELDR)
and the minor Liberal Party of Switzerland (Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti Libéral
Suisse, member LI) were right-of-center liberal parties that merged into FDP.The Liberals
(FDP.Die Liberalen/PLR.Les Libéraux-Radicaux, observer LI, member ALDE) in 2009.==The timeline=====Regeneration======From Liberal Democrats to Liberal Party
of Switzerland===1893: The moderate liberals established the
Liberal Democrats (Liberaldemokraten), but most German-speaking liberals joined in 1894
the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland 1913: The party is renamed Liberal Democratic
Party (Liberaldemokratische Partei) 1961: The party is reorganised into the Liberal
Democratic Union of Switzerland (Liberaldemokratische Union der Schweiz)
1977: The party is renamed Liberal Party of Switzerland (Liberale Partei der Schweiz/Parti
Libéral Suisse)===Free Democratic Party of Switzerland===
1894: The Radicals (Freisinn in German) became a dominant factor in Swiss politics and established
as a party the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz/Parti
Radical-Démocratique Suisse) 1896: A faction formed the ⇒ Extreme Left
1918: A conservative faction of the party seceded as the Farmers’, Traders’ and Citizens’
Party 1941: The Zürich branch joined the ⇒ Democratic
Party of Switzerland 1971: The Zürich branch of the ⇒ Democratic
Party of Switzerland rejoined the party===From Extreme Left to Democratic Party
of Switzerland===1896: The left wing of the ⇒ Free Democratic
Party of Switzerland established the Extreme Left (Äußerste Linke)
1905: The Extreme Left organised itself as the social liberal Democratic Party of Switzerland
(Demokratische Partei der Schweiz) 1941: A Zürich faction of the ⇒ Free Democratic
Party of Switzerland joined the party 1971: The Zürich branch of the party returned
to the ⇒ Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, while the Glarus and Grisons branches merged
into the Swiss People’s Party===
Ring of Independents===1936: Gottlieb Duttweiler formed the Ring
of Independents as a social-liberal party 1999: The party disbanded==Liberal leaders==
Freisinn: Ludwig Snell – Alfred Escher